'Am I ever going to feel safe?'

A woman who fought off an attacker who tried to drag her into a car in Sydney's west had screamed out loudly in front of dozens of passers-by: "Let me go! I don't know you!"

The thought that runs through my head quite often now [is] what if I didn't get out of that situation? Where would I be?

But despite Aida's desperate pleas for help, designed to let witnesses know that a stranger was trying to abduct her, no one came to the 29-year-old's aid on busy Railway Street in Liverpool on Monday afternoon.

Dismayed: Aida says no one helped her. Photo: Screen grab

Three days after her narrow escape, Aida, who did not reveal her surname, said she was most troubled by the inaction of the dozens of people on the street at the time. Some simply stared in her direction.

Advertisement

"I'm frustrated more than anything that no one helped," Aida said.

"My biggest issue is that people are not helping other people out there in compromising situations like mine. I'm frustrated that he's still out there.

Police released an image of a man who grabbed Aida by the arm.

"The community is not getting together and fighting these people."

Aida was standing on Railway Street, near the intersection with Bigge Street, in Liverpool about 4.20pm on Monday when four men in a red hatchback pulled up beside her.

One man got out of the front passenger seat and told her to get into the car.

When she refused, he grabbed her by the arm and tried to force her into the vehicle.

"He asked me to get in the car, and I said: 'No'.

"I said it with so much attitude, it was definitely a big no.

"He didn't like that answer so he grabbed my wrist with a lot of force.

"That's when I caused a lot of commotion, shouting, screaming and calling for help."

Her screams were enough to "freak out" the man, who then let go and got back in the car, which drove off.

Aida said her instincts told her to scream that she had never met the man.

"Some people might have thought it was a domestic situation, so I thought I'd better make them know that it wasn't the case.

"There were dozens of people around. There were people coming from Liverpool station and walking in groups. No one helped," she said, adding that no one even asked if she was all right afterwards.

"I think a lot of people are too scared to do anything, but if you're in a big group I think it's OK to do something. I'm not going to blame anyone if they were alone.

"Someone could have grabbed a number plate. Even now, no one has come forward [to police]. There are no witnesses. I just think people should speak out when they need to.

"The thought that runs through my head quite often now [is] what if I didn't get out of that situation? Where would I be?"

Police said on Wednesday that while Aida was chosen randomly, the attack may have been planned.

Liverpool Inspector Dean Johnstone said that no one had come forward to give detectives statements, even though dozens of people had been on the street.

"This was a random and brazen attack committed in broad daylight, which has left a young woman scared for her safety," Inspector Johnstone said.

Police have released an image of the alleged attacker.

He is described as being of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern appearance with an olive complexion, aged in his mid 20s, about 170 centimetres tall, with a medium build, brown close-shaved hair, facial stubble, brown eyes and hairy arms.

Anyone who recognises him or who has information about the attack has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.